Meetings comprise sixteen competitors and two reserves. A draw is held to determine the riding order, and these numbers are worn on the race jackets.
The heat format is determined as follows:
| Heat | Red (Gate A) |
Blue (Gate B) |
White (Gate C) |
Y/B (Gate D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 2: | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| 3: | 10 | 11 | 9 | 12 |
| 4: | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
| 5: | 13 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 6: | 14 | 10 | 2 | 6 |
| 7: | 11 | 15 | 7 | 3 |
| 8: | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
| 9: | 6 | 16 | 1 | 11 |
| 10: | 12 | 5 | 15 | 2 |
| 11: | 8 | 9 | 3 | 14 |
| 12: | 13 | 4 | 10 | 7 |
| 13: | 7 | 12 | 14 | 1 |
| 14: | 2 | 13 | 8 | 11 |
| 15: | 16 | 3 | 10 | 5 |
| 16: | 9 | 6 | 4 | 15 |
| 17: | 1 | 8 | 15 | 10 |
| 18: | 9 | 2 | 7 | 16 |
| 19: | 3 | 12 | 13 | 6 |
| 20: | 5 | 14 | 11 | 4 |
| The following heats are added for two-day meetings: | ||||
| 21: | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 22: | 4 | 12 | 16 | 15 |
| 23: | 2 | 1 | 14 | 13 |
| 24: | 5 | 7 | 11 | 9 |
| 25: | 9 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| 26: | 7 | 2 | 6 | 16 |
| 27: | 1 | 5 | 12 | 8 |
| 28: | 10 | 15 | 13 | 11 |
| 29: | 16 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| 30: | 13 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 31: | 8 | 14 | 15 | 7 |
| 32: | 12 | 10 | 9 | 2 |
| 33: | 3 | 13 | 7 | 12 |
| 34: | 6 | 9 | 1 | 15 |
| 35: | 11 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| 36: | 14 | 16 | 10 | 5 |
| 37: | 4 | 7 | 1 | 10 |
| 38: | 12 | 14 | 6 | 11 |
| 39: | 8 | 13 | 9 | 16 |
| 40: | 15 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Riders take the starting gate positions indicated. Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside.
The reserves may alternately take the rides of any incapacitated rider, replace any rider excluded for a starting infringement, or replace any rider excluded for exceeding the two minute time allowance. Points scored by reserves count in the final placings unless competition rules state otherwise [note - this has not always been the case]. Each reserve may ride in a maximum of five heats (per day in a two-day meeting).
Final placings are determined by race points. A runoff is held if two or more riders are tied on race points for first, second or third place. In official championships, a runoff is also held if there is a tie for a final qualifying or reserve position. Ties for other places are resolved by:
In the event of a runoff being required for five or more riders, a series of heats are held as follows:
Five riders
R1: 3 riders drawn by ballot
R2: 2 riders drawn by ballot
R3: 2nd & 3rd R1, 2nd R2 (3rd placed rider is ranked 5)
R4: 1st R1, 1st R2, 1st & 2nd R3 (determines rankings 1 to 4)
Six riders
R1: 3 riders drawn by ballot
R2: 3 riders drawn by ballot
R3: 2nd & 3rd R1, 2nd & 3rd R2 (3rd & 4th placed riders are ranked 5 & 6 respectively)
R4: 1st R1, 1st R2, 1st & 2nd R3 (determines rankings 1 to 4)
Seven riders
R1: 4 riders drawn by ballot
R2: 3 riders drawn by ballot
R3: 3rd & 4th R1, 2nd & 3rd R2 (2nd to 4th placed riders are ranked 5 to 7 respectively)
R4: 1st & 2nd R1, 1st R2, 1st R3 (determines rankings 1 to 4)
Eight riders
R1: 4 riders drawn by ballot
R2: 4 riders drawn by ballot
R3: 3rd & 4th R1, 3rd & 4th R2 (determines rankings 5 to 8)
R4: 1st & 2nd R1, 1st and 2nd R2 (determines rankings 1 to 4)